Passengers on Southwest Airlines flights are about to get an upgraded in-flight amenity that’s free to use: ultra-fast Starlink Wi-Fi.
The budget carrier just announced that it will add Starlink to hundreds of its aircraft by the end of 2026.
With Starlink, passengers will be able to use in-flight Wi-Fi the same way they do on the ground or at home.
“Starlink delivers that at-home experience in the air, giving Customers the ability to stream their favorite shows from any platform, watch live sports, download music, play games, work, and connect with loved ones from takeoff to landing,” said Tony Roach, Southwest’s chief customer and brand officer.
The first Southwest plane equipped with Starlink is set to roll out by this summer, the airline said. After that, the airline plans to quickly expand the service: the high-speed Wi-Fi will be available on more than 300 aircraft by the end of the year, according to Southwest.
“Free WiFi has been a huge hit with our Rapid Rewards Members, and we know our Customers expect seamless connectivity across all their devices when they travel,” Roach said.
The new service is sure to thrill Southwest loyalists, who have had to navigate several major changes at the carrier that haven’t been popular with passengers. Earlier this year, the airline ended its famous open-seating policy in favor of assigned seats and new seat selection fees. The carrier also recently nixed its beloved bag allowance, which gave every flier two checked bags for free.
In addition to the new Wi-Fi service, Southwest has been rolling out new aircraft cabins that feature new perks like power outlets at every seat and larger overhead bins.
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